[Air-L] Two PhD positions on addressing misinformation on social media at the Cyprus University of Technology

[Eleni Kyza]

Dear all,

the Department of Communication and Internet Studies at the Cyprus
University of Technology announces two Ph.D. positions on the following
topics:

*One (1) post on the topic: The design of Behavior Change Technologies for
misinformation-resilient citizens*

*One (1) post on the topic: Misinformation, fake news, and disinformation:
Investigation of citizens’ perceptions and practices regarding the
assessment of the credibility of online news.​​*

The Ph.D. stu
​dies​
will take place in the context of the Horizon 2020
 ​
project
​ ​
*Co-Inform* (*Co-Creating Misinformation-Resilient Societies*). Successful
candidates will be employed by Co-Inform for the duration of the project
​.​

​
More information can be found here
<https://www.cut.ac.cy/faculties/comm/cis/degrees/doctoral-studies/?languageId=1>
(or
keep reading).

The last date to apply for the post below is *14th of June 2018*.
​ Submit your application online here
<https://www.cut.ac.cy/studies/phd/Submission+of+application/>.

-----------------

*One (1) post on the topic: The design of Behavior Change Technologies for
misinformation-resilient citizens*

Description: The Ph.D. thesis will focus on the user-centered design and
evaluation of interactive tools (e.g., a browser plugin) that employ
theoretically-grounded behavior change techniques to nudge users towards
certain behaviors (e.g., reconsider re-posting of fake news on Facebook).
This work will be conducted in the context of the European research project
Co-Inform (Co-Creating Misinformation-Resilient Societies), which is being
funded by Horizon 2020. Co-Inform is a 3-year, interdisciplinary research
program, which seeks to develop technologies and examine those personal,
social, and technological practices that characterize how three stakeholder
groups (citizens, fact-checkers/journalists, policy makers) address online
misinformation, fake news, and disinformation.

Qualifications: To be considered, candidates should have completed an
undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Social Sciences or Design. A
graduate degree in Human-Computer Interaction will be considered an
advantage. Candidates should demonstrate an interdisciplinary background
with strong design and prototyping skills and an ability to read and
integrate social science literature in the design process. Prior
demonstrated research experience will be considered an advantage.
Candidates should be proficient in spoken and written English.

Candidates should submit full proof of their qualifications. In addition,
the submission of a detailed CV, along with a 2-page description of
relevant background and research interests, to assess the fit with the
proposed research topic, is requested. Candidates should also submit two
recommendation letters from academic referees.

Candidates who are short-listed will be invited for a personal interview by
the third week of June.

Financial Support: The successful candidate will be employed as a research
assistant in the Co-Inform project.  Employment may be offered on a
probation basis, with the possibility for renewal on a full-time basis
until the conclusion of the Co-Inform project. More information can be
provided during the interviews.

The position requires full-time, physical presence at the premises of the
Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol.

*Research Advisor: Evangelos Karapanos, Assistant Professor, Department of
Communication and Internet Studies, evangelos.karapanos [at] cut.ac.cy
<http://cut.ac.cy>*

________________________________


*One (1) post on the topic: Misinformation, fake news, and disinformation:
Investigation of citizens’ perceptions and practices regarding the
assessment of the credibility of online news.*
Description: This Ph.D. thesis will investigate citizens’ perceptions of
the credibility of online news, and their respective practices when using
online social media, with an emphasis on controversial, socio-scientific
news distributed via online media. The research work will be conducted in
the context of the European research project Co-Inform (Co-Creating
Misinformation-Resilient Societies), which is funded by Horizon 2020.
Co-Inform is a 3-year, interdisciplinary research program, which seeks to
develop technologies and examine those personal, social, and technological
practices that characterize how three stakeholder groups (citizens,
fact-checkers/journalists, policy makers) address online misinformation,
fake news, and disinformation.

Qualifications: To be considered, candidates should have completed an
undergraduate degree in Psychology, and a graduate degree in the same area,
or in the broader area of the social sciences, preferably awarded with
honors.  They should be able to work independently, but also work in teams,
and should be able to self-regulate their work.    Candidates should
demonstrate a strong methodological background, preferably using mixed
methods.  Prior demonstrated research experience will be considered an
advantage. Candidates should be proficient in spoken and written English.
Knowledge of spoken and written Greek language is preferred, but not
required.

Candidates should submit full proof of their qualifications.  In addition,
the submission of a detailed CV, along with a 2-page description of
relevant background and research interests, to assess the fit with the
proposed research topic, is requested. Candidates should also submit two
recommendation letters from academic referees.

Candidates who are short-listed will be invited for a personal interview by
the third week of June 2018.

Financial Support: Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate
may be funded during their studies (partial cover of tuition and fees, plus
living expenses).  Employment with the Co-Inform project may be offered on
a probation basis, with the possibility for renewal on a full-time basis
until the conclusion of the Co-Inform project. More information can be
provided during the interviews.

The position requires full-time, physical presence at the premises of the
Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol.


*Research Advisor: Eleni A. Kyza, Associate Professor, Department of
Communication and Internet Studies, Eleni.Kyza [at] cut.ac.cy
<http://cut.ac.cy>*